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I’m sorry your best friend moved away! That stinks and I’m sure you both miss each other a lot. It’s great that you guys want to be able to stay in touch and stay friends. I’m not going to lie, it’s not always easy to keep a long-distance friend. But here’s the thing: you guys will totally be able to stay friends if you’re both willing to put in the extra effort.

The good news is that technology today has made long-distance friendships and relationships easier than they ever have been before. There are tons of ways to stay in touch with each other. The most obvious way is social media – since you two are best friends, I’m sure you’re already connected through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. It’s super easy to chat with your friend via Facebook messaging, especially if it’s a site you both use a lot.

One thing I would definitely recommend doing is signing up for a Skype account. Video chatting is such a great way to stay connected to a friend – it’s a much more interactive experience than just talking on the phone or texting, because you both get to actually see each other. If you guys both have iPhones or iPads, you can also FaceTime.

There are tons of tools you can use to stay in touch, but the biggest thing is about both of you putting in the effort. You’re both going to get busy fast with your new, separate lives, so make sure you make plans for when you can talk. Don’t only rely on Facebook messaging or random texting. Set a date for once or twice a week (or more, depending on your schedule) to Skype or talk on the phone for 30 minutes to an hour. Having set plans to talk a few times a week will make it harder to blow each other off. If it’s possible to do so, make plans to visit each other as often as possible.

One thing to watch out for is jealousy. Your friend is probably (hopefully!) going to meet new people in her new town. It’s completely normal to feel jealous about her shiny new lifestyle, but try not to let that affect your friendship. Don’t be bitter or angry – she’ll pick up on it and will probably get mad herself. Try to be happy for her for settling into her new home.

Like I said before: maintaining a long-distance friendship is about putting in the effort and that can’t only come from one person. Make plans, set weekly dates and keep each other updated on the important things. If you’re meant to be BFFAE, you will be.

take care,
Heather

What’s on your mind? Heather can help! Send her your question at heather@gurl.com

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